The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal has declared the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate, Adams Oshiomole, winner of the April 14, 2007 election in the state.

Head of the tribunal, Justice Peter Umeadi who read the judgment ruled that Oshiomhole, who contested under the banner of the Action Congress won majority of the votes.

Umeadi said that the Oshiomhole scored a total of 166,577 votes to Osunbor's 129,117. Osunbor's lead attorney, Dr. Alex Iziyon said his client will appeal the verdict.

Oshiomhole had challenged the victory of Professor Oserheimen Osunbor at the Tribunal.

Oshiomole is contesting the declaration of results in the two disputed councils of Akoko-Edo and Etsako Central after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the state had said on air that there was no election there.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Olabanji Orilonishe, retired from the Bench 24 days ago, after attaining the mandatory age of 65.

A new chairman, Justice Peter Umeadi, who until then was a member, was appointed to head the election petitions tribunal.

Petitioners prove that there was electoral malpractices beyond reasonable doubt”. It was from exhibit 70 that the third respondent was declared winner. An inherent flaw in exhibit 70 and 71A. Invalidates 65,144 for PDP and 13,610 for AC. 2local government areas canceled. Tribunal slams INEC for incompetence says INEC official did not present any credible evidence before tribunal.

The elections petitions tribunal in Edo State took a historic step to rectify the election fraud that took place in Edo State on April 14 2007 in Benin today.

The panel ruled that the petitioner, former labor leader, Adams Oshiomole proved the cases of fraud, voter intimidation, multiple voters registration, over-voting and election violence and therefore held that the results were adversely affected.

The tribunal ruled that the elections are DECLARED in favor of the winner, Adams Oshiomole with 166,577 votes. INEC ordered to issue Oshiomole a certificate of victory

It is expected that the respondent, Prof. Osunbor will appeal the judgement.

Counting we have seen several of the last election results upturned at the tribunals.

What still gets me confused is that no one has been jailed for the malpractices that led to these election results being upturned.

or is it not a crime to be engaged in election malpractice?
someone pls educate me, why no jail term for the people who caused so much trouble cheating at the elections.

I still wonder how the Tribunal in Oyo state arrived at the judgment they gave in favour of Alao Akala. Oyo and Edo states have the worst election during the April polls, yet the woman in charge of Oyo's tribunal saw nothing wrong in that election. Anyway, Congratulations to Adams, he deserves nothig short of victory.

The legal quagmire will go on to the supreme court.The tribunal should have annul the election since about 1/4 of the total vote cast was cancelled.
The victory of the AC will not be celebrated for too long,considering the facts that the House of Assembly is dominated by the PDP and can truncate the governance of the state.
Personally,Osunbor is on the part of moving the state to next level as against the palace governance of the state by the last governor Igbinedion.
But the analysis of the political footprint of the state can only be sufficiently discussed based on the success of past administrators like Ogbemudia,Prof Alli(late),Chief Oyegun.The dispensation of Prof Alli in the education sector is yet to be contested by any post independence governor.
The problem of Edo state is not actually who will be the next Governor but is on will the Anenih's allow a modern edo state?